SLB FAQ: answers about the section builder for WordPress

Q: Does SLB work with my existing theme?

Free: with any theme whose page template calls slbuildrenderpage() (one line). Paid: yes, automatically through thecontent, or use the SLB Canvas template for a clean page.

Q: Can I write my own sections?

Yes. Add PHP files with an @section JSON header to the theme's sections/ folder. Theme sections override starter sections with the same slug. See writing a section.

Short answers to common questions about SLB.

What is SLB?

SLB (Section Layout Builder) is a section-based website builder for WordPress and WooCommerce. Developers describe each page section once as a PHP template with a JSON schema; SLB generates a clean full-screen editor from it, so clients can edit text, images, colors, links and products without touching code.

Is SLB a drag-and-drop page builder?

No. It is a structured section builder: pages are a vertical stack of sections and each exposes only the fields its developer chose.

Is SLB free?

There is a free edition on WordPress.org and a paid edition with extra developer features. See free vs paid.

Does SLB work with my existing theme?

Free: with any theme whose page template calls slbuild_render_page() (one line). Paid: yes, automatically through the_content, or use the SLB Canvas template for a clean page.

Do I need WooCommerce?

No. WooCommerce sections only render when WooCommerce is active.

Is it good for SEO and speed?

Sections render as server-side HTML with real headings and links, with no shortcodes. One precompiled stylesheet loads only on SLB pages. Final speed and SEO still depend on theme, hosting and content.

Where is my content stored?

In post meta as JSON. There are no shortcodes and no custom tables.

Can I write my own sections?

Yes. Add PHP files with an @section JSON header to the theme’s sections/ folder. Theme sections override starter sections with the same slug. See writing a section.

Does it work with Gutenberg?

It runs alongside it. Open pages from the Edit with SLB button; pages without SLB data keep their normal editor.

What happens to my pages if I deactivate SLB?

Content stays in post meta as JSON, and sections are plain PHP files you own. Front-end output stops without the plugin.

Can AI build sections for me?

Paid edition: yes, through Developer Mode and the MCP server, with a PHP lint and schema-validation gate before files are written. See AI and MCP.

Does the free plugin write PHP files?

No. It writes no PHP at runtime.

Is there a licence lock on my live site?

No. A lapsed paid licence never stops published pages from rendering.

Can I upgrade from free to paid without losing content?

Not automatically yet, because the two editions use different data keys. A migration path is coming.

What are the requirements?

WordPress 5.8 or later and PHP 7.4 or later. The MCP server additionally needs Node 18 or later.

Does SLB load external resources?

No scripts. Google Fonts load only if a font pairing is chosen in Theme Settings.

Last updated 2026-11-10